Business
South African legislator refuses to wear Chinese-made rugby jersey
JOHANNESBURG — A South African legislator says he won’t wear the national Springboks jersey during the Rugby World Cup because the garments were made in China at the expense of the African nation’s suffering textile and clothing industry.
The ne…
A South African legislator says he won’t wear the national Springboks jersey during the Rugby World Cup because the garments were made in China at the expense of the African nation’s suffering textile and clothing industry.
The news reignited anger about outsourcing of such symbols at a time the country is promoting “Proudly South African” products and dozens of factories are threatened with closure.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) calls it “a scandal” that will discourage workers from supporting the Springboks at the tournament starting Friday in New Zealand.
Legislator Joe Mcgluwa says Tuesday the South African Rugby Union’s decision is “disgraceful.”
The Rugby Union did not respond to requests for comment.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
